MASTER MERUIT NOT PENALISED FOR TRENTHAM 'CHASE

Wanganui Chronicle, 29 June 1948, Page 3

MASTER MERUIT NOT PENALISED FOR TRENTHAM 'CHASE

Hawke's Bay Steeplechase Win Was Against Weak Field

Winner’s share of the £lOOO stake in the Hawke’s Bay Steeplechase at Hastings on Saturday was £650, and that figure was credited to the account of Mr. H 11. Dod with his nine vearold Master Colossus gelding Master Meruit, who had previously won this race two years earlier. But in spite of the fact that there were eleven runners on Saturday it was rather a weak field that Master Meruit beat.

One pointer as to the weakness i of the field is provided by Mr. ■ W. P. Russell, handicapper for j the meeting and also for the Wei-1 lington Racing Club, who de-; elined to rehandicap Master | Meruit for the Wellington Steeplechase. Master Meruit won with 11.10 on Saturday and he will have 10.12 in the saddle in the Wellington Steeples, an event which he won in 1945 with 9.4. . There was no doubt in the minds of I investors as to the outcome of the Hawke’s Bay Steeples, as they installed the 1946 winner a decided favourite on the straight-out mach- , ine. But, as is often the case when • one horse appears to be outstanding, ; “place” bettors sought out some other medium and plunged on Vernon, who , had run a good race in hack and hunters’ company at Awapunl after ; winning at Levin. Thus place back- , ers of Master Meruit almost doubled I their outlay, whereas supporters of Vernon tore their tickets up when the Amaranthus gelding fell at the last fence when he looked like challenging Master Meruit. Though he outclassed the field Master Meruit appeared to ne jumping with a good deai more care than usual, and probably Midwood was ■ more anxious to get him round safe- I ly than to take any chances. As it i was, Master Meruit hooked a couple ; of fences in a manner which might j have proved fatal to a less expen- I enced combination. But at that stage | the topweight was bowling along in ; front, and it was apparent that only 1 a major blunder would deprive his supporters of their expected dividends. Now Master Meruit will have many more friends for his second tilt at the Wellington Steeplechase. He pulled up sound, which was encouraging in view of the fact that he had to fore- ' go his Great Northern engagements i because of doubts about his sound- i ness after he had finished second at | Te Rapa. Of course, he has a journey [ of three and a-quarter miles ahead I of him, and the pace will be more , solid than it was at Hastings, but he ; is a careful jumper and if mistakes are made by his opponents Master , Meruit should profit thereby. Whiphand had run into the lead in the Hawke’s Bay Steep.echase and was giving a good exhibition, with his rider saving a good deal of ground on the corners, when he ran off at the second of the stand double before going a mile. It was rather early in the race to suggest that he would have been the ultimate winner, but the Ringmaster gelding was doing it nicely at the time and it appeared as if he could have opened up a gap on his nearest opponents had his rider so desired. The opposition will be stronger at Trentham, Whiphand is bred on staying lines and, barring accidents, he may well be in the picture on Saturday. Master Meruit appeared to be holding Vernon easily when the challenger fell when taking the final obstacle rather close in to the inside wing, with the result that he lost his footing on landing and pitched his rider over his head. The horse also turned a somersault, but neither the rider nor the horse appeared to suffer injury. Vernon claims engagements in both ’chases at Trentham on Saturday, but at the present stage it is more like y his mission will be the opening event. Bronze Night, the only Aucklander to survive the acceptances, gaves a satisfactory display and F. Cleaver got him into second place, though the best part of half a funong behind the winner. But for the' errors of some of the better fancied candidates Bronze Night might have found it difficult to make such a good return for his place supporters. Solo Park, a winner at the Napier Park meeting at the beginning of the month, had too much pace on the flat for the tired Spiro, whom he beat into fourth place after a tussle for the last half-mile. Solo Park should win races when the opposition is not too strong. Spiro might have been more prominent had he not displayed a tendency to run wide at some fences and then run down others. He mav yet prove amenable to restraint.